Sick-call set



W- J. TRACEY SICK-CALL SET July 16, 1968 Filed March 7, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR, Wallzam J. Tracqy,

/ f wallow Atty July 16, 1968 w. J. TRACEY 3,392,821

a i 25 b i INVENTOR,

William J. Tracey,

BY 1 4M 7 \J M Aug 5,

United States Patent ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A religious stick-call set including a base, in a cavity of which religious articles are contained and further including a cover plate for overlying the base and enclosing the religious articles therein, a crucifix being secured 'to the cover plate and extending beyond an end thereof for be- 7 ing received in a socket formed in the base, wherein the cover plate and crucifix'secured thereto are adapted to be mounted in a vertical position with respect to the base.

Background of the invention Religious sick-call sets are normally used in those circumstances which require a religious ceremony and the use of a cross or crucifix. Such religious sick-call sets are usually portable in nature and also include ceremonial articles, such as candles and holy water therewith. Two such religious sick-call sets as employed heretofore are illustrated in patents 2,358,558 and 3,113,664.

The prior known religious sick-call sets have either been inconvenient in the construction thereof or have been formed of such materials as to render the sick-call set somewhat awkward in the carrying and use thereof. Further, the prior known sick-call sets have been relatively expensive to manufacture due to the construction and materials used and thus have found some disfavor in the area of use thereof.

Summary of the invention The present invention relates to a religious sick-call set that includes a base formed of a wood material and in a generally oblong configuration. Formed in an upper surface of the base is a cavity in which ceremonial articles, such as candles and a holy-water container, are received in a storage position. A cover plate, also formed of a wood material, normally overlies the base and encloses the articles in the cavity. A crucifix is secured to the cover plate and is formed of a metal material so as to define a contrast therewith and thu renders the sick-call set more interesting and attractive. In the present invention, the cross of the crucifix, which is formed with an interlocked cross member and elongated leg member, is constructed such that the elongated leg member extends beyond an end of the cover plate. The elongated leg member, which is preferably formed in a square cross-sectional configuration, is receivable in a socket that is formed in the base and that has a configuration corresponding to that of the leg member. Thus, when it is required to use the sick-call set, the cover plate with the crucifix attached thereto is removed from the overlying position with respect to the base, and the end of the leg member is placed within the socket in the base so as to mount the cover plate and crucifix in a vertical position with respect to the base. The ceremonial articles that are located in the cavity in the base may then be removed for use as required. In the present invention, additional openings are located in the base for receiving the candles that are formed as part of the ceremonial articles.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a religious sick-call set that is convenient to use and that is attractive and ornamental in appearance.

Still another object is to provide a religious sick-call set 3,392,821 Patented July 16, 1968 in which a cover plate having a crucifix secured thereto is mounted in overlying relation on a base, the leg of the crucifix being receivable in a socket in the base for mounting the cover plate and crucifix in a vertical position with respect to the base. 1

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the deScription:thereof proceeds when considered in connection with the accompanying illustrative drawings.

Description of the drawings FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the crucifix embodied in the present invention showing a cover plate and crucifix secured thereto as mounted in overlying relation on a base;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the sick-call setshowing the cover plate and crucifix secured thereto mounted in vertical position on the base; and

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along lines 3-3 in FIG. 1 and secured to a vertical surface.

Description of the invention Referring now to the drawings, the religious sick-call set embodies herein is illustrated generally at 10 and includes a base generally indicated at 12 and a cover plate generally indicated at 14 on which a crucifix generally indicated at 16 is secured.

The base 12 has a generally oblong configuration, and formed in the upper surface 18 thereof is an oval recess 20 in which religious articles, such as candles 22 and a container 24 of holy water, are received for storage therein. Also formed inthe surface 18 and adjacent to the cavity 20 are recesses 26 that are of a diameter for receiving the candles 22 in snug fitting relation therein. As shown in FIG. 3, bayonet slots 28 and 30 are formed in surface 18 adjacent to the ends thereof and are provided for retaining the cover plate 14 on the base 12, as will be described. Referring to FIG. 3, a square-shaped socket 27 is shown formed in the base 12 and, as will be further described, receives a leg member of the crucifix 16 for mounting the cover plate 14 in a vertical position on the base 12.

The cover plate 14 is also formed in a oblong configuration, although the dimensions thereof are somewhat reduced With respect to the dimensions of the base 12. Thus, when the cover plate 14 is placed in overlying relation on the base 12 as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3, a marginal edge is defined between the base 12 and the overlying cover plate 14. In order to secure the cover plate 14 to the base 12, spaced pins 32 and 34, as illustrated in FIG. 3, are secured to the rear surface of the cover plate 14 and are formed with heads thereon for being receive-d in the bayonet slots 28 and 30, respectively. By forming the bayonet slots 28 and 30 in the surface 18 of the base, which slots receive the pins 32 and 34, the sick-call set 10 may be conveniently disposed in a vertical position, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3, with the cover plate 14 securely mounted in place on the base 12. For the purpose of mounting the sick-call set in a vertical position, a bayonet slot 35 is formed in the rear surface of the base 12 and is adapted to be placed on a screw or nail 36 (FIG. 3) that is located in a wall 37.

Fixed to the outer surface of the cover plate 14 is the crucifix 16 that includes a cross member 38 and an elongated leg member 40, the cross member 38 and leg member 40 being notched at the junction thereof. The cross member 38 and leg member 40 are formed of square stock, the cross sectional configuration of the leg member 40 cor-responding generally to that of the socket 27. Mounted on the cross as defined by the cross member 38 and leg member 40 is a figure of Chirst 41 that is secured to the cross member 38 and leg member 40 by any suit- 3 able means, such as pins 42. As further shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the cross-member 38 of the crucifix 16 extends somewhat beyond the marginal edges of the cover plate 14 and the base 12. The leg member 40 also extends beyond the ends of the cover plate 14, it being particularly important that the extreme end 43 of the leg member adjacent the lower end thereof, as viewed in the vertical position, extend beyond the end of the cover plate 14. In this connection, the edge of the cover plate indicated at 44 cooperates with the end 43 of the leg member to locate the cover plate 14 and crucifix 16 secured thereto in the vertical position.

In use of the sick-call set 10, the candles 22 and the container 24 are normally disposed within the cavity 20, and the plate 14 overlies the surfaces 18 of the base 12, wherein the ceremonial articles and the recesses 26 are covered in a storage position by the cover plate 14. In the overlying position, the pins 32 and 34, that are secured to the rear surface of the cover plate 14, are received in the bayonet slots 28 and 30, respectively, thereby locking the cover plate 14 to the base 12. When it is desired to place the siclccall set at the bedside of a sick person, the base 12 is disposed in a generally horizontal position, and the cover plate 14 is removed therefrom. The lower end of the square-shaped leg member 40 of the crucifixlfi is then inserted into the square-shaped socket 27 that is formed in the surface 18 of the base, the depth of the opening 27 being substantially the same dimension as the extension 43 of the leg member 40 that extends beyond the end of the cover plate 14. Thus, when the extension 43 of the leg member 40 is received in the opening 40, the lowermost edge 4-4 of the cover plate 14 abuts the surface 18 of the base to stabilize the cover plate 14 and the crucifix 16 sercured thereto in vertical position. The candles 22 are thereafter placed within the recesses 26, and the container 24 removed from the cavity 20 and used as required.

While there is shown and described herein certain specific structure embodying the invention, it will be manifest to these skilled in the art that various modifications and rearrangements of the parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the underlying inventive concept and that the same is not limited to the particula-r forms herein shown and described except insofar as indicated by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a religious sick-call set, an oblong bas having a rectangular configuration in horizontal cross section and having a cavity formed therein in which ceremonial articles are received in a storage position, said base having a non-circular socket formed therein adjacent to an end thereof, an oblong cover plate normally overlying said base and enclosing articles in said cavity, said cover plate having a rectangular configuration in horizontal cross section corresponding generally to that of said base and being confined within the marginal edges thereof when located in overlying relation thereon, and a crucifix secured to said cover plate and including an elongated leg and cross member that are interconnected, said elongated leg extending lengthwise of said cover plate intermediate the side edges thereof and including an extension that projects beyond an end of said cover plate, said extension being receivable in said non-circular socket formed in said base for mounting said cover plate and crucifix secured thereto in a vertical position with respect to said base.

2. In a religious sick-call set as set forth in claim 1, at least two of the religious articles contained in said cavity being candles, and spaced openings formed in the base adjacent to said cavity for receivingk said candles when said cover plate with the crucifix secured thereto is mounted in the vertical position on said base, said cover plate normally enclosing said openings when located in overlying relation on said base.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,649,086 11/1927 Spillane 206-19 1,909,349 5/1933 Blanchard 20619 3,113,664 12/1963 Tracey 2.0619 3,165,200 1/1965 Hanson 206-45.l4

JOSEPH R. LECLAIR, Primary Examiner.

THERON E. CONDON, Examiner.

J. M. CASKIE, Assistant Examiner. 

